Foil package

ABSTRACT

A foil package for polygonal objects having two opposite sides and a plurality of edge faces connecting the same. A first foil member overlies one of the opposite sides. A second foil member overlies the other of the opposite sides and at least one of the edge faces. A cup-shaped third foil member overlies the other side and all of the edge faces exteriorly of and in surface-tosurface contact with the second foil member. The second and third foil members are connected to one another.

States Patent 1 1 Korner 1 1 May 22, 1973 [54] FOIL PACKAGE [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: Horst Kiirner, Munich, Germany UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 Assignee; Gel-"is AGMunichGermany 2,112,816 3/1938 Rulon ..250/69 1,830,342 11/1931 Stokes ..229/87 R [22] Filed: May 18, 1971 2,008,361 7/1935 Lindsey.... .....229/51 AS 1,925,565 3 1933 N l ..206 46 FM 21 Appl. No.: 144,102 I 6 I FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Related US. Application Data 483,314 4/1938 Great Britain ..250/69 [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 823,866, May 12, 1969,

abandoned- Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr.

Attorney-Michael S. Striker [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Aug. 20, 1968 Gennany ..P 17 86 115.3 A foil package for polygonal objects having two posite sides and a plurality of edge faces connecting [52] "206/46 99,171 206/56 the same. A first foil member overlies one of the op- 229/51 229/87 F posite sidesi A second foil member overlies the other [51] Int.Cl ..B65d 85/74,B65d 85/76 of the opposite sides and at least one of the edge [58] Field of Search ..206/46 R, 46 F, 46 FM, faces- A third member Memes the 206/62, 56 AA; 229/87 R, 87 C, 87 F, 87 G, 51 R, 51 AS, 51 TS, 3.5 MF; 250/69, 68; 99/171 R, 184

other side and all of the edge faces exteriorly of and in surface-to-surface contact with the second foil member. The second and third foil members are connected to one another.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented May 22, 1973 INVENTOR. 3 Hour [(611 61 FOIL PACKAGE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation application of my copending application Ser. No. 823,866, filed May 12, 1969, and entitled Foil Package now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to packages, and more particularly to foil packages.

Still more specifically the present invention relates to foil packages which are particularly suitable for the packaging of edibles.

Many edibles, such as cheese, butter, margarine or the like, are packed in form of polygonal articles, that is in bar-shape, in cube-shape or the like. It is known to pack such articles in packages of metal or other foils. However, the opening of such foil packages is frequently connected with difficulties especially if the packed article is shape-retaining only at relatively low temperatures but becomes soft and possibly flowable or at least yieldable when warmed. Thisis for instance the case in butter, margarine, with certain cheeses and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an important object of the present invention to avoid these disadvantages.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved foil package which is not possessed of these disadvantages.

Still more particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide such a foil package which can be readily opened even if the contents are relatively soft.

In pursuance of the above objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, I provide a foil package, particularly for polygonal objects having two opposite sides and a plurality of edge faces which connect these sides, which package comprises a first foil member overlying one of the opposite sides, and a second foil member overlying the other of the opposite sides and at least one of the edge faces. A third foil-member overlies at least the other side and all of the edge faces and it is connected to the second foil member which it overlies also exteriorly thereof in surface-to-surface contact therewith.

Thus, the first foil member is not connected with the second and third foil members and when the latter are removed in the manner still to be discussed, it can serve as a base or underlayment on which the now exposed object or article rests. The second foil member is provided with a gripping portion accessible to the fingers of a user and, when pull is exerted on this gripping portion, it will separate the second and third foil members from the first foil member and from the packaged article. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the second foil member consists of a material which is more resistant to mechanical stresses than at least the third foil member. Alternately, the second foil member may be of greater thickness than at least the third foil member.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation,

together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a cheese package embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top-plan view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a top-plan view of the blank of the tear foil prior to its use in constructing the package of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing in detail it will be seen that reference designation K' identifies a cheese article of rectangular cross section. The upper surface of this article and if desired, the right-hand edge face thereof is covered by the cover foil 2. The lower surface of the cheese article K and also at least the right-hand edge face is covered by the tear foil 3 which overlies the cover foil 2 on the right-hand edge face if the latter is covered by the foil 2 and is provided with a gripping portion 3" which advantageously has a different visual appearance from the remainder of the package, for instance by being of a different color. The configuration of the tear foil 3 is shown in FIG. 3 where it will be seen as a blank prior to being used in the package of FIG. 1.

There is finally provided a substantially cup-shaped foil member 1 which accommodates the article K with the foil members 2 and 3, in its interior, as illustrated. The upper marginal portions 1 of the member 1 are inwardly bent towards one another as illustrated and overlie the marginal portions of the cover foil 2.

At the right-hand edge face, or rather at the righthand side of the package, the portion 3 of the tear foil 3 overlies the marginal portion 2' with which the cover foil 2 is provided in this embodiment with the gripping portion 3" extending from below the inwardly bent marginal portion 1' of the foil member 1 so as to be accessible to the fingers of the user.

The inwardly bent portions 1 provide for sealing of the package without requiring a connection with the cover foil 2.

The tear foil 3 and the inside of the foil member 1, however, are in surface-to-surface contact and are connected to one another, for instance by a suitable adhe sive such as a thermoplastic material over part or over their entire surface area.

To open the package of FIG. 1 it is simply necessary to grip the gripping portion 3" and to pull up and towards the right-hand side of FIG. 1; this results in tearing of that part of the foil member 1 which is adhesively connected with the tear foil 3, from the remainder of the foil member 1 and exposing of the packaged cheese article K. By reversing the package the article may now rest on the cover foil 2 if desired. It will be evident from this that the opening of this package is extremely simple and does not contrary to the packages known in this field heretofore require a reversal of the original wrapping process. This has always been objectionable because it was not possible without bringing the fingers of the user into direct contact with the packaged article which is objectionable because of possible contamination of the article, or also because fat or moisture from the article is retained on the fingers.

The original packaging advantageously is carried out by inserting the foil member 3 into the foil member 1, introducing the article to be packaged, placing the cover foil 2 into position, bending over the marginal portions of the member 1 as well as the portion 3' of the member 3 to the position shown in FIG. 1, and effecting adhesive connection between the members 3 and 1, for instance by activating a thermoplastic material contained on or between their juxtaposed surfaces, by the application of heat or the like. Of course, if desired or necessary the bent-over marginal portions 1 of the member 1 may be covered with wax, a plastic or the like to prevent entry of moisture or other contaminants between them and the surface of the cover foil 2. However, this is to be carried out purely for sealing purposes, if at all, and must not affect the ease of separation of the members 1 and 3 from the package and from the cover foil 2.

Different types of materials are suitable for the various foil members, including metallic foils. As mentioned before, the tear foil 3 may advantageously be of a material having greater mechanical strength than the foil member 1, or it may be of greater thickness for the same reason.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a foil package, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A foil package, particularly for articles which are to be protected against contact with the fingers of a user during opening of the package and with a support on which they may be placed after opening of the package, said articles having two opposite sides and a plurality of edge faces connecting said sides, and said package comprising a first foil member overlying one of said opposite sides; a discrete second foil member overlying the other of said opposite sides and at least one of said edge faces; a third foil member overlying said other side and said edge faces exteriorly of and in surface-tosurface contact with said second foil member, said third foil member comprising edge portions which overlie said first foil member at marginal portions of said one side; connecting means connecting said second and third foil members against undesired separation; and a gripping portion on said second foil member extending beyond said one edge face and the edge portion of said third foil member which overlies the marginal portion associated with said one edge face, said gripping portion overlying said first foil member so as to be accessible to the fingers of a user for exerting pull in a sense effecting separation of said second and third foil members from one another and from said article whereby, due to said first and second foil members being discrete, said first foil member remains on said article upon separation of said second and third foil members from one another and from said article and may serve to protect said article from contact with a support on which said article is placed.

2. A foil package as defined in claim 1, at least some of said foil members consisting of metallic material.

3. A foil package as defined in claim 1, said second foil member consisting of a material having a greater mechanical strength than that of said first and third foil members.

4. A foil package as defined in claim 1, said second foil member having a thickness greater than at least said third foil member.

5. A foil package as defined in claim 1, said gripping portion having a visual appearance different from the remainder of said foil members.

6. A foil package as defined in claim 1, said gripping portion having a color different from the remainder of said foil members.

7. A foil package as defined in claim 1, said means being adhesive means.

8. A foil package as defined in claim 1, said means connecting the contacting surfaces of said second and third foil members over at least part of their respective areas. 

1. A foil package, particularly for articles which are to be protected against contact with the fingers of a user during opening of the package and with a support on which they may be placed after opening of the package, said articles having two opposite sides and a plurality of edge faces connecting said sides, and said package comprising a first foil member overlying one of said opposite sides; a discrete second foil member overlying the other of said opposite sides and at least one of said edge faces; a third foil member overlying said other side and said edge faces exteriorly of and in surface-to-surface contact with said second foil member, said third foil member comprising edge portions which overlie said first foil member at marginal portions of said one side; connecting means connecting said second and third foil members against undesired separation; and a gripping portion on said second foil member extending beyond said one edge face and the edge portion of said third foil member which overlies the marginal portion associated with said one edge face, said gripping portion overlying said first foil member so as to be accessible to the fingers of a user for exerting pull in a sense effecting separation of said second and third foil members from one another and from said article whereby, due to said first and second foil members being discrete, said first foil member remains on said article upon separation of said second and third foil members from one another and from said article and may serve to protect said article from contact with a support on which said article is placed.
 2. A foil package as defined in claim 1, at least some of said foil members consisting of metallic material.
 3. A foil package as defined in claim 1, said second foil member consisting of a material having a greater mechanical strength than that of said first and third foil members.
 4. A foil package as defined in claim 1, said second foil member having a thickness greater than at least said third foil member.
 5. A foil package as defined in claim 1, said gripping portion having a visual appearance different from the remainder of said foil members.
 6. A foil package as defined in claim 1, said gripping portion having a color different from the remainder of said foil members.
 7. A foil package as defined in claim 1, said means being adhesive means.
 8. A foil package as defined in claim 1, said means connecting the contacting surfaces of said seCond and third foil members over at least part of their respective areas. 